Posted by Sport X Canada on 2026 Aug 14th
How to Run a Spirit Wear Fundraiser for Your School
If you're a PAC volunteer or school organizer looking for a fundraiser that's straightforward, low-stress, and actually gets people excited — a spirit wear fundraiser is worth a serious look.
No chocolate bars. No wrapping paper catalogues. Just your school's name and colours on gear people actually want to wear.
Here's how to run one from start to finish.
Step 1: Get the Right People on Board Early
Before anything else, make sure you have buy-in from the people who matter.
- School administration — a quick conversation with the principal or vice-principal goes a long way. They'll often help promote the fundraiser through school channels.
- PAC executive — confirm the fundraiser fits into the year's plan and that someone has the bandwidth to coordinate it.
- A point person — one person should own the project. Fundraisers with too many cooks tend to stall.
The earlier you align, the smoother everything else goes.
Step 2: Decide What You're Selling
This is where it gets fun. Spirit wear fundraisers work best when you offer a focused selection — enough variety to appeal to different people, but not so many options that decisions become overwhelming.
A strong starting lineup might include:
- Hoodies or crewnecks — the perennial favourite. Kids and parents both buy them.
- T-shirts — great for a lower price point and younger students
- Hats or toques — easy add-ons that sell well, especially heading into fall and winter
- Youth sizes — don't forget the younger siblings
Keep the colour palette tight — one or two school colours, consistent across items. It looks better and simplifies production.
Step 3: Set Your Fundraising Goal
Know what you're raising money for before you launch. A specific goal makes the fundraiser feel real and gives people a reason to participate beyond just buying a hoodie.
"We're raising funds for new library books" lands differently than "general PAC fundraising." Be specific and share it openly — it motivates buyers.
Step 4: Set Up Your School Store
This is where Sport X Canada comes in.
We can set up a simple online school store for your fundraiser — products are listed with your school's branding, parents browse and order directly, and everything is consolidated for production. No collecting order forms by hand, no chasing down payments.
Want to see what one looks like? Check out our sample school store for Highland Park Middle School → to get a feel for the experience.
Step 5: Promote It — Early and Often
A spirit wear fundraiser lives or dies on promotion. Give yourself at least two to three weeks of active promotion before the order deadline.
Channels that work well:
- School newsletter and email list
- PAC Facebook group or parent WhatsApp groups
- School announcements and bulletin boards
- Teachers mentioning it in class (a quick ask goes a long way)
Tips that help:
- Share the fundraising goal so people know what they're supporting
- Post a reminder in the final week — a lot of orders come in at the last minute
- If you have a sample item to show, show it. Seeing the product in person drives orders.
Step 6: Close the Order and Hand Off to Us
Once your order window closes, we take it from there.
We confirm the final order, finalize artwork, and go into production. Typical turnaround is two to three weeks once everything is approved. We'll keep you updated along the way so there are no surprises.
Step 7: Distribute and Celebrate
When the order arrives, organize a simple pickup day — at school, at a PAC meeting, or however works best for your community.
And don't forget to share the result. How much did the fundraiser raise? What will the money go toward? A quick update in the school newsletter or PAC group closes the loop and builds momentum for next time.
What Does Sport X Canada Donate Back?
Here's the part that makes a spirit wear fundraiser with Sport X a little different from the rest.
Through our Give-Back Program, your school or PAC receives a donation of 25 to 40% of the total order value — on top of the fundraiser itself. It's built into every order we take, not an add-on or a special promotion.
So your fundraiser raises money and triggers a donation back to your organization. Two ways the same order works for your school.
Ready to Get Started?
We're happy to walk you through the whole process — no obligation, no pressure. Give Wes a call or send us a message and we'll take it from there.
604-309-5988 wesh@sportxcanada.com Or contact us here →
Sport X Canada is based in Abbotsford, BC, and works with schools, PACs, sports teams, and charities across the Fraser Valley and beyond.